Do start and stop times need to be provided for all accounts submitted on or after the 17 December 2024?
No.
Start and stop times are only required for any time-based work carried out on the case on or after the 17 December 2024. Time-based work means any work for which the fee payable is based on the time engaged, which have always required the supply of time detail.
Does the introduction of start and stop times apply to paper and case management accounts?
Yes.
You will need to insert start and stop times for any time-based work items for accounts submitted on paper or submitted from your case management system.
We only highlighted the system changes required in our earlier communication because most solicitors submit their accounts using LAOL and we had to adapt some work items on our systems to accommodate this change.
Do you have to record the time for all work items, including drafting letters and framing documents?
No.
You only need to record the start and stop times for any time-based work that is not covered by a block fee. Time-based work commonly includes:
- telephone calls of any duration
- meetings
- perusals
- preparation
- Travel time
- time engaged at court/tribunal (waiting time, meetings, time in attendance at the hearing)
- any other time-based work activity.
You do not need to record the time spent drafting a letter or framing a court document, where the table of fees makes provision to charge based on a page or a sheet, respectively.
Are start and stop times required for telephone calls?
Yes.
Telephone calls are time-based work items and therefore you must accurately record the start and stop times no matter how long the call took.
How do you charge for a telephone call received that does not relate to the client who you are travelling to visit/represent at court/tribunal?
You should record the start and stop times in your account for any chargeable time-based work activities that relate to the legal services you are providing to your client.
For example, if you received a telephone call when travelling that relates to a different case, which lasted say from 10:30am – 10:40am, you must record this break in your travel time. You should not charge for any work that relates to another matter that is unconnected to your client’s case against their grant of legal aid.
Are start and stop time required for taking statements/precognitions under advice and assistance?
Generally, no.
However, for statements/precognitions taken in immigration and asylum related matters requiring more than one meeting with the client, it is preferable to include the start and stop times of any meetings, as this will help to verify the dates and times of any outlays claimed for interpreting services.
You should claim for the meetings at £0.00, as the time spent taking the statement is included in the block precognition fee.
You should insert the block precognition fee in your account at the date the precognition was in its final form.
Would it be acceptable to make up the start and stop times if the solicitor has not recorded this information on their file, but instead has recorded the time it took?
No.
If the start and stop times have not been recorded on the file, then you will need to revert to the solicitor for this information.
Can you claim the number of minutes the time-based work activity actually took?
The start and stop times replace the option to insert the number of minutes.
The benefit of submitting your accounts using LAOL means that the system will correctly calculate the fee for you.
More information
Please contact Eileen Grant, Accounts Assessment Manager.
Email: manager.accounts@slab.org.uk.
